View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.py

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

13,178 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

200,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

320,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.887 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (2003)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.334 billion expenditures: $1.37 billion; including capital expenditures of $700 million (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

guarani (PYG)

Current account balance [time series]

$-255 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.45 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

56.8 (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by a firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the economic policy of the DUARTE FRUTOS administration, the economy rebounded between 2003 and 2005, posting modest growth each year.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.528 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

44.17 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

51.29 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

guarani per US dollar - 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$3.13 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather

Exports - partners [time series]

Uruguay 26.7%, Brazil 15.2%, Argentina 4.8%, Chile 4.7% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$7.281 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$29.11 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 22.4% industry: 20.7% services: 56.9% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$4,600 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$3.832 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 26.8%, Argentina 21.1%, US 20.8%, China 9.5% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.68 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 45% industry: NA% services: NA%

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

25,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

32% (2005 est.)

Public debt [time series]

36% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.297 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

16% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than California

Climate [time series]

subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

Irrigated land [time series]

670 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)

Location [time series]

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Terrain [time series]

grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Capital [time series]

name: Asuncion geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

promulgated 20 June 1992

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

Ambassador James C. CASON embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: [595] (21) 213-715 FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962 FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008) election results: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Government type [time series]

constitutional republic

Independence [time series]

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)

Legal system [time series]

based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2 note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led to the composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators - seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, PQ 10, PPS 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Herminio CACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kennedy]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares] note: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year prison term

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Introduction

Background [time series]

In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,345,022 females age 18-49: 1,342,725 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,109,166 females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 63,058 females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2006)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.9% (2003 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970) 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

15,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.1 years male: 72.56 years female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.3 years male: 21.1 years female: 21.6 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.45% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs [time series]

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

Transportation

Airports [time series]

881 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 869 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 325 under 914 m: 518 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWT by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Argentina 3) registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Railways [time series]

total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)

Waterways [time series]

3,100 km (2005)